Process for the hardening or tempering of copper



Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PROCESS FOR THE HARDENING OR TEMPERING OF COPPER John Vid 'Chicon, Ambridge, Pa.

No Drawing.

Application June 6, 1933,

Serial No. 674,658

2 Claims. (01. 75-62) The object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive metal which will not rust, tarnish, break or crack. This metal to be used for all purposes for which metals are commonly used.

a My discovery is a process for the hardening or tempering of copper, and for producing a metal which contains all of the qualities mentioned above.

Because it will not rust or tarnish, it is adapted for the manufacture of tools, rods, or for other purposes where the metal isexposed to the air or water, such as in submarines, bottoms of ships, airships, etc.

Because it will not break or crack, either while cold or heated, it is adapted for the manufacture of piston rods, boilers, machinery, etc.

It is excellent for electrical purposes as the hardening of copper by my process does not hinder the electrical conductivity.

Copper may also be used for ornamental purposes, as it is very lustrous and becomes beautiful when polished.

The procedure in carying out my process is as follows:

The copper is placed in a crucible or furnace and heated under 2400 degrees furnace heat until it becomes sufficiently molten. While still in a molten state, lime and powder of rosin are added and stirred thoroughly. The amount of lime or powdered rosin to be used depends on the extent of the hardness desired, but I have found from experiments that the best specimen is obtained by adding one and one-half (1 /2) pounds of lime and one-half /2) pound of powdered rosin to every eight pounds (8) of copper.

Then a chill or sand mould is provided and this is dusted with a sufficient quantity of powdered rosin. This dusting of the moulds is done to prevent the molten metal from sticking to the mould.

The molten copper is then poured from the crucible or furnace into the mould and allowed to cool. It is then a casting or ingot of hardened or tempered copper.

The lime is used to purify the copper, making it a higher grade and of better quality. The impurities may be skimmed off as they rise to the top while the metal is still in the crucible or furnace.

The rosin is used to harden or temper the copper. This substance renders the metal hard and tough and makes it practical for all metallic purposes.

In order to change the shape or form of the ingot it is necessary to have it passed through a rolling mill. The ingot of hard copper must be placed in a furnace and heated to a red glow under 1600 degrees furnace heat. -It must then be placed in powdered rosin then in lime and.

then passed through the rolling mill. This is done four (4) times, each time it is placed first in rosin, then in lime and passed through the rolling mill.

If the copper ingot can be run through the rolling mill four (4) times before cooling it will not be necessary to place the ingot back into the furnace for re-heating before each rolling.

'If it is allowed to cool after each rolling, it must be placed back into the furnace and reheated the second time under 1400 degrees furnace heat, the third time under 1200 degrees and the'fourth time under 1000 degrees, each time it is placed first in the powdered rosin and then in the lime before each rolling.

The rosin is used in this case to retain the hardness or temper of the metal which is lost from the surface when re-heated. The lime is used to keep the rosin attached to the surface of the ingot of copper.

If the ingot is sufliciently small it may be cold rolled. Neither heating or application of the rosin and lime being necessary.

All heats mentioned in the above specification are measured by degrees Fahrenheit.

1 have described my invention and I claim:

1. The process of hardening or tempering copper consisting in heating the copper until it becomes molten, adding a sufiicient quantity of rosin to the copper while the copper is in a molten state, or before it becomes molten, or while in the act of becoming molten, stirring this mixture thoroughly and then casting it into a mould and allowing to cool; applying rosin to the surface of this hardened casting or ingot of copper after reheating to a red glow, before rolling into a finished product.

2. The process of hardening or tempering copper consisting in heating the copper until it becomes molten, adding a sufficient quantity of both, rosin and lime to the copper while the copper is in a molten state, or before it becomes molten, or while in the act of becoming molten, stirring this mixture thoroughly and then casting it into a mould and allowing to cool; applying rosin and lime to the surface of this casting or ingot of copper after reheating to a red glow, before rolling into a finished product.

JOHN VID CHICON. 

